Jambs hill



'J. HILL Step-Ladder.

No. 225,831. Patented Mar. 23, 1880.

N. PETERS. PHDTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES HILL, ()F WILKESBARRE, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,831, datedMarch"23, 1880. Application filed January 22, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES HILL, a citizen of the United States, residingin Wilkesbarre, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, have invented anImprovement in Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to so combine a shelf with a step-ladderthat the said shelf will be automatically turned into position for usewhen the ladder is opened, and will be folded up when the ladder isclosed, the shelf operating devices also acting as braces for the ladderwhen the latteris in use.

The invention consists of the combination of the ladder, the pivotedframe, the shelf, and certain arms, constructed, connected, and pivotedin respect to each other ashereinafter set forth, whereby the aboveresults are attained.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of myimproved ladder as it appears when in use; Fig. 2, a vertical section ofthe ladder as it is being closed up; and Fig. 3, a sectional plan on theline 1 2, Fig. 1.

A is the main ladder, and B the pivoted supporting-frame, the ladder Aconsisting, as usual, of the side bars, a a, and steps b, and the frameB comprising apair of legs, (I, and transverse connecting-bars c.

D is a shelf, carried by two arms, f f, which are pivoted at w to thelegs at of the frame B, each arm being connected at the pointy to theouter end of an arm, g, the opposite end of which is pivoted to theadjacent side bar, a, of the ladder at the point 2.

When the frame B is extended, as shown in Fig. 1, the ends of the armsfbear against the under side of one of the steps b of the ladder, and theshelf D is in proper position for receiving a bucket or otherreceptacle, the points at, y, and 2 being in line with each other, sothat the frame B is braced by the arms f and g and cannot move towardthe ladder A.

When it is desired to close the ladder, however, the joint 3 isdepressed until it is below a line drawn through the points 00 and 2,when the frame B is free to be folded against the ladder A, the samemovement effecting the folding up of the shelf D, owing to the action ofthe arms g on the shelf-arms f. (See Fig.2.) On opening the ladder theshelf is automatically turned down to the position for use, as shown inFig. 1.

It is not necessary that the ends,of the arms f should bear against theunder side of one of the steps b when the ladder is open, as in Fig. Forinstance, the ends of the arms might bear against a transverse rodindependent of the steps, or lugs on the arms 9 might serve as stops forthe arms f, and in some cases stops may be altogether dispensed with,the arms 9 being used simply for the purpose of eflecting the automaticlowering and folding up of the shelf, independent devices in such casebeing provided for bracing the frame B.

The arrangement shown is preferred, as one device is thereby caused toperform double duty. The shelf-arms may, however, be pivoted to the sidebars a of the ladder, and the arms g to the legs 11 of the frame B, ifdesired.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of theladder A, the pivotedframe B, the shelf D,having arms f, and the arms g, said arms f andgbeing connected together, and the arms f being pivoted to the frame Band the arms 9 to the ladder A, or vice versa, whereby the movement ofthe frame B will effect a simultaneous movement of the shelf D, allsubstantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the ladder A, the piv= oted frame B, the shelf D,having arms f, the arms '9, connected to said arms f, and pivoted inrespect thereto as set forth, and a stop for maintaining said arms'f andg in line with each other, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES HILL.

Witnesses:

E. N. EASTERLINE, W. S. PARSONS.

